Vacuum feeding device



Feb. 27, 1923.

J. JACOBSEN VACUUM FEEDING DEVlCE Filed May 18, 1921 IIVVENTOR mcoaJAcoBaE/v Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

UNITED JACOB JACOBSEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA...

VACUUM rnnnrne nnvron.

Application filed May 18,

v T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB JAcoBsnN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vacuum FeedingDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a vacuum fuel feeding device for internalcombustion engines, and especially to a device of this character whichis actuated by. the suction produced in the intake manifold of theengine when in operation and which will elevate the gasoline from themain storage tank to an auxiliary tank from which the gasoline willflowby gravity to the bowl of a carburetor. v

One of the objects of the present invention is to generally improve andsimplify devices of this character, to provide an automatic valvemechanism, and to ro-vide a float actuated lever mechanism of simpledesign for operating the valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cover structure,and means for securing the same without resorting to such devices asexterior bolts, screws, etc.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combinationand arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, having reference to the accomr l ying d a i g in h.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of the vacuum feeding device.

Fig. 2 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 1. r

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the Valve actuating lever.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the cover showing thesecuring tube, the venting valve and the. suction valve.

, Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the float.

actuated lever.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a cylindrical tankorcontainer provided with .a bottom section 2 and a fixed cover section3, in which is formedan opening 4. Forming a closure for said opening isa removable cover 5, and dividing the interior of the tank A into twocompartments, as shown at 6 and 7, is an intermediate bottom section .orpartition member 8. This member is horizontally disposed and has anopening formed therein as indicated at 9. The opening is cut or pressedout of the plate 1921. Serial No. 470,678.

8 and lugs are formed thereon as at 10 to form t a support for a fibrewasher 11, which serves as a bearing or guide for a stem 12 of a float13. Also secured to the intermediate bottom section 8 is a cylindricalextension, 14, andforming aclosure therefor is a plug 15 in which isformed two inletopeningslG, a connecting passage 17, and a dischargepassage 18. The openings 16 communicate with the interior of thecylindrical extension 14 and with the connecting passage 17, and thedischarge opening 18 similarly communicates with the connecting passage.Forming ac-losure for the lower end of the extension 14 is a bottomsection 19 through which the members 16 extend, and forming a normalclosure for the discharge opening 18 is a disk valve 20 which serves thefunction of a check valve which will hereinafter be described.

Forming a part of the removable cover section 5 is a centrallsection 21which is I cylindrical in shape. Forming a part of the member 21, orsecured to the bottom portion thereof, is a pair of interspaced bearingbrackets 22. Pivotally mounted as at 23 between the upper ends of thebearing brackets between the lower ends of the bearingbrackets is avalve actuated lever 26 which is connected with the float 13 by means ofa link or rod 27. The valve lever24, as clearly illustrated-in g.- ispproximately b i r The uppe nd f th l ve terminates in a hook shapedprojection28, While the lower ends of the lever terminate inlugs '29 h s13 suppert a entin a. pair of bearing extensions 34 receiving the pivotpin 25'. The lOWer end of the bail terminates in a hook 35, and a coilspring 36. connects the levers 24 and 26 by being atis a lever 24,, andpivotally mounted as n25 v tached to the respective hook like extensions7 28 and 35 as shown in Fig. 1. i The lever arm 26 is further providedwith apair of stop members 36 and 37 the stop 36 controlling thelowermost position assumed by the, float .13, and conversely the stop.37 the raised .or

uppermost position .of the float.

Formed within the member 21 is a central chamber 38. Formed in thebottom of the chamber is an opening through which passes a tube 39, andalso formed in the bottom section of the'chamber 38 is an opening forvalve seat 44 which cooperates with the suction valve 32, which willhereinafter be de scribed. j

The tube 43 is connected with the intake manifold of an internalcombustion engine not here shown.v A second tube entering through thecover 5, and indicated at 45 is c'on'nectedwith the storage tank for thereception of gasoline or the like, and a third tube connected with thebottom section 2 as at 46 delivers the gasoline by gravity to the bowlof a carburetor. The cover 5 as previously statedis removable. The'tube39 extending therethrough is turnably mounted in the bottom section ofthe extension 21, but the lower end of the tube is threaded and isadapted to be received by a threaded boss 50 secured to the intermediatebottom section 8; the'upper end of the tube being shouldered as at'51 toform a head like projection which will exert a downward pull on thecover 5 when the tube is turned; the tube being furthermore slottedas at52 to permit it to be turned by a screw driver or like device. Thecentral chamber 38 formed in the cover is normally closed by a plug 53.This plug is however provided with an air vent opening 54 to permit thechamber 38 to "be 1n constant communication with the atmosphere.

In actual operation we will assume that gasoline as been previouslyadmitted to the chamber 6, and that the lower chamber 7 has beencompletely filled. During the OP? eration of the engine, it is obviousthat the gasoline admitted will gradually drain from the chambers 6 and7 through the pipe 46 which is connected to the carburetor. The gasolinelevel in the upper chamber 6 finally becomes so lowthat the weight ofthe float will trip the lever 26 and cause it to assume the positionshown in Fig. 1. lVhen this happens it can readily be seen that thespring 26 exerts a pull on the valve lever 24 which will cause it toassume the position shown 1n Fig. 1. TlllS exerts a downward pull on thevalves 31 and 32, causing the valve 31 to close with relation to itsseat 40, and the suction valve 32 to open with relation to its seat 44.The pipe 43 is continu ously subjected to a considerable vacuum due tothe fact that its opposite end is connected wit-h the intakemanifold ofthe engine. Air contained in the chamber 6 will thus be quickly removedand a suflicient vacuum will be produced within the chairher 6 to causean inflow of gasoline from the storage tank through the pipe 45. Thegasoline thus admitted will gradually fill the chamber 6 and the floatwill continue to rise until further movement is checked by thestopmember 37. The spring 26 will simultaneously, or just previous to theengagement oi the stop, pass beyond the center 23 and will thus trip thelever 24, causing it to open the venting valve 21 and simu'ltaneouslyclose the suction valve 32.

Air is thus admitted and the vacuum broken and the gasoline will nowdrain freely intothe lower chamber 7, that is it passes around the guidewasher 11 and downwardly through the cylindrical extension 14, fromwhereit escapes through the member 16, the

connecting passage'17, and the discl' arge' opening 18; the hydrostaticpressure being suflicient to lift the check valve from its seat, thuspermitting the gasoline to enter the chamber. The float 13 will againgradually settle as the gasoline drainedor consumed by the carburetor,and it will again assume its lowermost position when the springQripasses the center. of the pin 23, as the lever '24 will then trip andclose the vent valve 21, and simultaneously open the suction valve 32;the extreme lowermost position of the valve being limited and checked bythe stop member 36.. This lower- 3 most position is assumed-until thegasoline level is again raised to the point where the automatic trippingaction takes place; the circle of operation being intermittentlyrepeated and repeated as long as the engine is in operation. In fact asfar as the principle of operation is concerned, the present device isidentical to. the standard form of vacuum feeding devices now in generaluse.

The real novelty, as far as the present invention is concerned, is thegeneral construction of the levers shown in Figs. 3 and 5; theconstruction of the: removable cover 5; the method of securing the sameby means of the tube 39, and the general arrangement and construction ofthe cylindrical extension 14 and the check valve 20.

In operation it is obvious that it is'not only necessary to vent andadmitair to the chamber 6, but it is also necessary to vent the chamber7. I This is'oontinuously vented in the present instance through themedium of the tube 39 as this tube is open and in constant communicationwith the atmosphere through the chamber'38 and the vent pas-. sage 54.In fact this tube serves three functions, first that of a continuouslyopen vent for the chamber 7 secondly that of" a tie or stay rod forsecuring the removable cover 5; and third, that of a primlng connectlonfor partially filling the chambers 6 and 7, if they should be completelydrained; the priming being accomplished by merely removing the plug 53and pouring gasoline into the chamber or compartment 38. Gasoline pouredinto this chamber will drain through the tube 39 into the chamber 7 andit will thus supply a sufiicient quantity of gas to start the engine andthereby create the suction required to operate the device.

A gasket may be interposed between the head 51 of the tube-39 and thebottom of the extension 21 to form an air-tight connection between thesame. A gasket should similarly be interposed between the removablecover 5 and the seat formed for its reception. These are theonly gasketsand tight joints required in the present instance. The entire mechanismis exceedingly simple and substantial in construction. The cover 5 canbe quickly and readily removed or replaced by means of the rod 39;screws, bolts, etc., being entirely eliminated. The levers 24 and 26 areexceedingly simple in design and are in fact so constructed that theymay be stamped and formed by a die operation. The float 13 must beinserted through the opening closed by the cover 5 when the mechanism asa whole is being assumed. Considerable trouble is often encountered inplacing the stem 12 in its guide bearing, such trouble is howeveravoided in the present instance as the guide bearing or Washer 11 isplaced below the surface of the bottom 8. A recess is thus formed in thebottom which is easily located by the guide stem. Once the rod 12 hasbeen located with relation to the recess, it is obvious that it isfairly easy to move the stem about until the guide bearing in the washerislocated. The difiiculty of entering the guide stem 12 is not so greatwhen the apparatus is first assembled, for instance in a factory, as itmay be placed in position before the cover 3 is secured; but it isobvious that considerable difliculty is encountered if the apparatus istaken apart later on as the float can only be inserted and removedthrough a small opening closed by the cover 5.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will beseen that lugs 42 and 42, are formedon the cover and that these are disposed on an angle. This is ofconsiderable importance as it permits the tubes 43 and 45 to beconnected with the cover without employing elbows, nipples, etc; that istubes 43 and 45 are preferably constructed of copper or the like, and assuch may be bent to form a gooseneck connection, thus avoiding the useof elbows, etc. particularly as they enter the I "a tank divided lntoanupper and'a lower f cover on an angle. In fact all connections withthe tank are made through the cover, thus materially simplifying, thestructure'as a whole.

iVhilecertain features of the present invention are more or lessspecifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes inform and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims,-similarly that the materials and-finish of the several partsemployed may be such as the experience and judgment'of the manufacturermaydictate or varying uses may demand. I

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to securebyLettersP-a'tentisi 1. A vacuum feeding device comprising a tankdivided into an upper and a lower compartment, a removable cover memberfor the upper compartment, a rod extending therethrough, said rod havinga central passage formed therein in communication with the atmosphereatone end and in communication with the lower chamberat the other end,means forming a connection between the upper end of the rod and thecover, and means for exerting a pull on the rod to se cure the cover. v

2. A vacuum feedingdevice comprising atank divided into an upper and alower compartment, a removable cover member for the upper compartment, arod extending therethrough, said rod having a central pas sage formedtherein in communication with the atmosphereat one end andincommunication with the lower chamber at theother end, means forming aconnectionbetweenthe upper end of the rod and the cover, a threadedextension on the lower end of the rod, and a threaded member within thecontainer for the reception of said threaded extension.

compartment, a top'for the tank having an j I opening therein, aclosuretfor the sai-dopen ing, interspaced brackets within-' the uppercompartment and avalve' lever secured to the brackets, anactuating leveralso carried by the brackets and connected at one end to i the valvelever and at the-other end to a opening therein, a closure for theopening comprising a plate having a, cylindrical well "therein closed bya plug, the said wellhavand float deing' an'openingthereinforming avalve seat,

a valve coacting with the seat and a valve lever "carried by the closurefor operating the same,the sald well' hav ng constant com-'IHLIHICELUOII' with the atmosphere.

5. A vacuum feeding dev'ice comprising compartment, a check valveconnecting the same, permitting'a flow of liquid from the upper compartment the lower compartment, but checking movement inthe opposite'direction, a removable cover for the 'upper compartment, acentralQprojection' formed on "the-cover, a chamber formed therein, ahead and tube extending through said chamber andthe bottom thereof, athreaded boss" placed within the tank, a threaded connection on thelower end of the tube adapted to be received by the threaded member,said tube adapted to exert a downwardpull on the cover to secure thesame, and said tube forming a ventingconnection between the lowercompartment and the atmosphere, a screw plug forming a closure for thecham-- ber formed in the cover, and a ventingpass sage in said plug andin constant communicationwith the atmosphere. H

6. Avacuum tuel'feeding device-comprising a tank divided into an upperand a lower compartment, a removable top forthe tank carrying:interspaced brackets thereon, a substantiall bail-shaped lever having alip thereon secured within the brackets, a sub? stantiallybail-shapedactuating lever having a lip thereon also secured within thebracket, a springconnecting between the lips on the levers, and stops onthe actuating lever for limiting its motion. r

'7. A vacuum feeding device comprising a tank, a partition membertherein dividing the tank into, an upper and a lower chamber, a checkvalve carried by said partition member permitting a flow of liquid fromthe upper chamber to the lower chamber, a removable cover for the" upperchamber, a pair of bearing brackets secured to thecover, a Valve leverpivotally mounted between the bearing brackets, a float actuatedleveralso pivotally mounted'between the brackets, a spring connecting thelevers and exerting a pull between thesame, a venting valve and asuction valve actuated by the valve lever and adapted to be alternatelyopened and closed thereby, a float connected with the last named lever]and adapted to impart movement thereto, a-suction pipecommunicating-with the suction valve, a venting tube connecting thecover and the partition member and forming a constant, vent for thelower chamber, a liquid supply tube connected with the upper chamber,and means limiting the .movement of the float actuated leverin'eitherdirection. v

'8. In a device ofthe' character described the combination with the tankand the partiti on member mounted therein, dividing the tank into anupper and a lowerchamber,

of a cylindrical extension secured to the partition member, a bottom forsaid cylindrical extension forming a closure therefor, an opening formedinthepartition member in communicationwith the upper end of thecylindrical extension, lugs formed around the edge of said opening anda' guide washer secured between said lugs. i

described 9. In a device of the character I the combination with a tankand the partition member'mounted therein, dividing the tank into anupper and a lower chamber,

of a cylindrical extension secured to the passage, a valve seat formedat the upper end of the dischargepassage and a disk valve movablebetween said; seat and the bottomof the cylindrical extension.

10. In a device of the character described the combination with the tankandthe partition member secured therein dividing the tank into an upperand a lower chamber, or a cylindrical extension secured to the partitionmember and projectingv downwardly into the lower chamber, a bottommember for .said cylindrical extension forming a closuretherefor, anopeningv in the partition member communicating with the upper end 'Ioithe cylindrical extension, a casing secured to the bottom of thecylindrical extension, said casing having a pair of upwardly extendingextensions passing through thebottom of the cylindrical extension and'securedthereto, a passage formed in each of said extensions, a crosspassage in the casingv connecting said passages,v a discharge passagecommunicating withthe cross passage and alsoformed in the casing, avalve seat formed at the upper end of said passaga-and a valve diskmovable between said seat and the bottom of the cylindrical, extension.1

11. In a device of the character described the combination with the tankand the partition member mounted therein dividing the tank into an upperand a lower chamber, of a removable cover for the upper chamber,

atube extending through the cover, a thread- ,ed'boss secured to thepart1t1on member, a

threaded extension on the lower endof the tube adapted to be received bythe threaded boss, and a head member on the. upper end of the tubeengaging the cover and permit ting turning movement to be imparted tothe tube, said tubeform ng a venting connection betweenthe lower chamberand the atmosphere, and said head memberon the tube-exerting a downwardpressure on the covert secure the same. H

12. A vacuum fuel feeding device comprising a tank, a top for the tankhaving an opening therein,- a closure for said opening,interspacedbrackets carried by the closure and supporting a valve leverthereon, an actuating lever also carried bythe brackets and 1,4ee,eo2 5,I

connected at one end to the valve lever and therein, a closure for theopening having a at the other end to a float, the said brackets, Welltherein,. a hollow tube carried by the 10 levers and float dependingfrom the closure closure and extending into the Well, the said beingremovable through the opening in the hollowtube providing means forfastening 5 top of the tank as the closure is removed. the closure,venting the tank and priming 13. A vacuum :Euel feeding device comthesame when the fuel tank-has been exprising a tank, divided into an upperand hausted. 1 lower compartment and having an opening JACOB JACOBSEN.

